Sequel Ace
MySQL and MariaDB database manager for macOS
Quick Take: Sequel Ace
Sequel Ace is the best free MySQL client for macOS, period. It's native, fast, clean, and does everything a MySQL developer needs on a daily basis. It doesn't try to be a universal database tool — and that focus is its strength. If MySQL or MariaDB is your primary database and you want a reliable, no-cost client that feels like it belongs on your Mac, install Sequel Ace and stop looking.
Best For
- •MySQL and MariaDB developers
- •WordPress developers managing databases via SSH
- •Developers migrating from Sequel Pro
- •Anyone who wants a free, native Mac database client
Install with Homebrew
brew install --cask sequel-aceWhat is Sequel Ace?
Sequel Ace is a native macOS database manager for MySQL and MariaDB. It's the community-maintained successor to Sequel Pro, which was one of the most beloved Mac database clients before development stalled around 2020. When Sequel Pro's codebase became too outdated to build on modern macOS versions, a group of contributors forked it, modernized the internals, added Apple Silicon support, and released it as Sequel Ace. The tool does exactly what MySQL and MariaDB developers need and nothing more. You connect to a database, browse tables, write and run queries, edit data in a spreadsheet-like grid, inspect table structures, export to CSV or SQL, and manage user permissions. The interface is clean, native Cocoa, and feels like it belongs on macOS. There are no Electron layers, no Java runtimes, no web views — just a proper Mac app that launches instantly and doesn't eat your RAM. Sequel Ace occupies a specific niche: it's the best free, native Mac app for MySQL/MariaDB. If MySQL is your primary database, it's the tool you want for daily query work, quick data edits, and connection management. It doesn't try to support PostgreSQL, MongoDB, or Redis — that's what tools like DBeaver and TablePlus are for. And it doesn't charge $89/year like TablePlus does. For the many developers who just need to connect to a MySQL database, run some queries, and get on with their day, Sequel Ace is exactly right.
Deep Dive: From Sequel Pro to Sequel Ace
The story of how a community fork saved one of the most popular Mac developer tools.
History & Background
Sequel Pro was originally created by Lorenz Textor in 2003 under the name 'CocoaMySQL.' It was renamed to Sequel Pro around 2008 and became the go-to MySQL client for Mac developers throughout the 2010s. The application was praised for its native feel, simplicity, and reliability. However, development slowed dramatically after 2018, with the last official release (1.1.2) in early 2019. Critical bugs accumulated — including crashes on macOS Catalina and Big Sur — and the codebase couldn't compile on modern Xcode versions without significant changes.
How It Works
Sequel Ace inherited Sequel Pro's Cocoa/Objective-C codebase and has been progressively modernizing it. The team updated the MySQL connector libraries, added support for newer authentication methods (caching_sha2_password), converted deprecated macOS APIs, and added Apple Silicon native compilation. The architecture remains fundamentally the same — a lightweight Cocoa app with direct MySQL protocol communication — which is why it stays fast and low on resources.
Ecosystem & Integrations
Sequel Ace's ecosystem is straightforward: the app itself, its GitHub repository, and a small but dedicated group of contributors. There's no plugin system or extension marketplace. The project accepts donations via GitHub Sponsors and Open Collective. Several community members have created connection import tools for migrating saved connections from Sequel Pro.
Future Development
The Sequel Ace team focuses on maintenance and compatibility rather than feature expansion. Current priorities include improving the query editor (better autocomplete, syntax checking), adding support for newer MySQL features (like WINDOW functions in query results), and keeping pace with macOS API changes. There's no plan to add PostgreSQL or other database support — the team believes in doing MySQL well rather than doing everything mediocrely.
Key Features
Native macOS Interface
Built with Cocoa/AppKit, Sequel Ace looks and feels like a first-party Apple application. It respects system Dark Mode, uses standard macOS keyboard shortcuts, integrates with the system keychain for password storage, and renders text with native font smoothing. Startup time is under a second on Apple Silicon. It's the antithesis of Java-based database tools.
Query Editor with Favorites
The SQL editor supports syntax highlighting, auto-indentation, and basic autocomplete. What makes it practical is the 'Query Favorites' feature — save frequently-used queries (that complex JOIN you always forget, the status check you run daily) and recall them instantly. It's not as sophisticated as DataGrip's SQL intelligence, but it handles day-to-day query work without friction.
Table Content Browser
Browse table data in a responsive grid with filtering, sorting, and inline editing. Click a cell to edit it — Sequel Ace generates and executes the UPDATE statement for you. Pagination handles large tables without loading everything into memory. For developers who need to manually inspect or fix data, this is faster than writing SQL for every small change.
SSH Tunneling
Connect to remote MySQL databases through SSH tunnels directly from the connection dialog. Enter your SSH host, username, key file, and the MySQL connection details behind the tunnel. Sequel Ace handles the tunnel lifecycle automatically. This is essential for connecting to production databases behind firewalls without setting up a separate SSH session.
Data Export
Export query results or entire tables to CSV, JSON, XML, SQL dump, or dot syntax. The SQL export generates complete INSERT statements that can be used to recreate the data in another database. CSV export respects your delimiter and encoding preferences. It's straightforward and reliable — no configuration gymnastics.
Table Structure Editor
Inspect and modify table schemas visually. View columns, indexes, foreign keys, and triggers. Add columns, change types, rename fields, and set defaults through the GUI instead of writing ALTER TABLE statements. The changes are previewed as SQL before execution, so you can verify what will actually run.
Who Should Use Sequel Ace?
1The WordPress Developer
Maintaining several WordPress sites running on MySQL, this developer uses Sequel Ace to connect to each site's database (usually via SSH tunnel to the hosting server). They browse the wp_options table to check site settings, run queries against wp_posts to find problematic content, and export specific tables before running plugin updates. The native Mac interface makes the workflow feel natural, and the SSH tunneling means they don't need a separate terminal window for the connection.
2The Laravel Developer
Working on a Laravel application with a local MySQL development database (via DBngin or MAMP), this developer keeps Sequel Ace open alongside their editor. When a migration adds a new table, they switch to Sequel Ace to verify the schema looks correct. When debugging a failed query, they paste the SQL from Laravel's error log into Sequel Ace to run it manually and inspect the results. Query favorites store the common debugging queries they use across projects.
3The Junior Developer Learning MySQL
Studying SQL for the first time and working through exercises, this developer uses Sequel Ace's table content browser to see the data before and after running queries. The visual table structure editor helps them understand column types, primary keys, and indexes without reading raw SHOW CREATE TABLE output. When they export their work as SQL dumps, they can share it with classmates or instructors.
How to Install Sequel Ace on Mac
Sequel Ace is available both as a Homebrew cask and on the Mac App Store. The Homebrew installation is the most common for developers.
Install via Homebrew
Run `brew install --cask sequel-ace`. This installs the latest version directly. Alternatively, download it for free from the Mac App Store.
Launch and Add a Connection
Open Sequel Ace and you'll see the connection manager. For a local MySQL instance, enter Host: 127.0.0.1, Username: root, Password: (your password), and Port: 3306. Click 'Connect.'
Select a Database
Once connected, the left sidebar shows your databases. Select one to browse its tables. Click a table to see its structure, or switch to the 'Content' tab to browse data.
Open the Query Editor
Click the 'Query' tab to open the SQL editor. Write your query and hit Cmd+R to execute. Results appear in the lower pane.
Pro Tips
- • Store your passwords in the macOS Keychain (check the 'Save in Keychain' option) instead of saving them in the connection file.
- • Use Cmd+Shift+R to execute only the selected portion of a multi-statement query, not the entire editor contents.
- • Right-click any column header in the Content tab to add a quick filter — faster than writing a WHERE clause for simple lookups.
Configuration Tips
Enable Auto-Reconnect
In Sequel Ace Preferences > Connection, enable 'Automatically try to reconnect.' This prevents the frustrating 'MySQL server has gone away' error after leaving a connection idle. Especially useful when you step away for lunch and come back to a dead connection.
Set Default Encoding to UTF-8mb4
When creating new connections, set the encoding to UTF-8mb4 in the connection settings. This ensures proper handling of emoji and multilingual content. MySQL's default UTF-8 only supports 3-byte characters, which truncates emoji. UTF-8mb4 is the correct encoding for modern applications.
Alternatives to Sequel Ace
Sequel Ace is the best free native Mac app for MySQL. But if you need more database support or advanced features, here are the alternatives.
TablePlus
TablePlus supports MySQL plus PostgreSQL, SQLite, Redis, MongoDB, and more. It's equally native and fast, with a more modern UI. The catch: it costs $89/year (or $199 lifetime). If you only use MySQL and want to stay free, Sequel Ace is the choice. If you use multiple databases and can afford it, TablePlus is the upgrade.
DBeaver Community
DBeaver connects to 80+ databases for free. But it's a Java/Eclipse app — slower startup, higher memory usage, and a non-native UI. If MySQL is your only database, Sequel Ace provides a much better daily experience. If you need PostgreSQL, MongoDB, or Oracle alongside MySQL, DBeaver is the universal tool.
MySQL Workbench
Oracle's official MySQL client. It has schema design tools, performance dashboards, and migration utilities that Sequel Ace lacks. But it's notoriously slow, buggy on macOS, and the UI is cluttered. Most Mac developers prefer Sequel Ace for daily use and only open Workbench for specific administrative tasks.
Pricing
Sequel Ace is completely free. It's available on the Mac App Store at no cost and as a Homebrew cask. The project is open source under the MIT License and maintained by community contributors. There are no paid tiers, no premium features, and no subscriptions. Development is funded by voluntary donations through GitHub Sponsors and Open Collective.
Pros
- ✓Completely free and open source (MIT License)
- ✓Native macOS app — fast, lightweight, respects system conventions
- ✓SSH tunneling built into the connection dialog
- ✓Clean, focused UI that doesn't overwhelm new users
- ✓Query favorites for saving frequently-used SQL
- ✓Inline data editing in the table content browser
- ✓Apple Silicon native — runs without Rosetta
- ✓Also available on the Mac App Store for easy updates
Cons
- ✗MySQL and MariaDB only — no PostgreSQL, SQLite, MongoDB, or Redis support
- ✗SQL autocomplete is basic compared to DataGrip or DBeaver
- ✗No ER diagram generation
- ✗Limited data visualization (no charts or graphs from query results)
- ✗Community-maintained with a small contributor base — updates can be slow
Community & Support
Sequel Ace is maintained by a small group of dedicated contributors on GitHub (github.com/Sequel-Ace/Sequel-Ace). The project has over 6,500 stars and accepts contributions through pull requests. Support is handled through GitHub Issues — the maintainers are responsive but the small team size means feature requests move slowly. The Mac App Store version includes a built-in 'Report Issue' feature. Documentation is available on the project wiki, though it's less comprehensive than commercial tools.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sequel Ace
Our Verdict
Sequel Ace is the best free MySQL client for macOS, period. It's native, fast, clean, and does everything a MySQL developer needs on a daily basis. It doesn't try to be a universal database tool — and that focus is its strength. If MySQL or MariaDB is your primary database and you want a reliable, no-cost client that feels like it belongs on your Mac, install Sequel Ace and stop looking.
About the Author
Related Technologies & Concepts
Related Topics
Database Tools
Desktop applications for managing and querying databases on macOS.
Sources & References
Fact-CheckedLast verified: Feb 23, 2026
- 1Sequel Ace GitHub Repository
Accessed Feb 23, 2026
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